QuebecS ski and snowboard season is off to a promising start, bolstered by an early and sustained cold snap that has delivered favorable conditions to resorts across the province. Operators are reporting considerably improved snow quality and increased trail accessibility compared to last year, a welcome development for an industry heavily reliant on consistent winter weather. From downhill to cross-country, Quebec’s winter sports destinations are benefiting from a combination of natural snowfall and early-season snowmaking opportunities, sparking enthusiasm among both businesses and enthusiasts alike.
Quebec ski resorts are experiencing a strong start to the season thanks to an early and sustained cold snap, boosting conditions and attracting skiers and snowboarders. The favorable conditions are a welcome sign for the industry, which relies heavily on predictable winter weather.
Resorts benefited from colder-than-average temperatures arriving in late November and early December, allowing for early snowmaking. “We were fortunate to have rather cold temperatures at the end of November and beginning of December, which favored mechanical snowmaking,” explained Isabelle Vallée, spokesperson for Le Massif de Charlevoix ski resort.
“And with that, we also had some good snowfall which, combined with the snow made on the ground, has created skiable slopes of very high quality,” Vallée added, anticipating these conditions will hold throughout the ski season.
“We are expecting around 20 centimeters of snowfall early next week, so everything is in place for a good start to the season,” she said.
As of December 27th, Le Massif had opened nearly double the number of trails compared to the same time last year, with 28 of its 53 trails accessible to skiers, according to Vallée.
The cold weather hasn’t deterred winter sports enthusiasts, who have been hitting the slopes since the opening on December 6th. “We can really feel the enthusiasm,” Vallée noted.
Simon Pagé, Executive Vice President and Deputy General Manager of Les Sommets, which operates five ski resorts in Quebec, echoed this sentiment. “Skiing is trending, people are really excited for the season,” he stated.
In recent years, when we launched the season, it was mainly thanks to man-made snow, but the surrounding environment wasn’t as special. There was less natural snow.
Pagé explained that the significant snowfall in November and December has created a “magical” setting, attracting winter sports fans.
Cross-Country Ski Centers Also Benefit
The positive trend extends to cross-country ski centers. Maxim Cloutier, owner of the Gai-Luron cross-country ski center, reported similar conditions. “Our trail network is in the forest, so we can’t make artificial snow. We are really at the mercy of snowstorms,” he explained.
The ski trails are also snow-covered, as seen in this photo taken in Amos.
Photo : Gracieuseté – Steve Tardif
At least 30 to 40 centimeters of snow accumulation is needed for cross-country ski trails to be usable, a threshold reached by the first week of December when the center opened its trails to the public.
“This is a truly exceptional year, we’ve received snow every week,” said Cloutier. “Right now, we’re lucky, they’re forecasting more snow tomorrow, from Sunday to Monday, which will further improve conditions.”
The Gai-Luron center, located in Saint-Jérôme, has only had to close for two days due to a brief warm spell – something that hasn’t happened in two decades, according to Cloutier, whose family has owned the center for 50 years.
It’s been 20 years since we’ve had a holiday season like this, with good conditions, without losing two weeks of Christmas due to the temperature.
In comparison, he recalled that last year, after opening for three weekends in December, the center had to cease operations until January 11th due to a lack of snow.
In late November, MétéoMédia predicted an “old-fashioned winter” for Quebec, with temperatures below normal and abundant snowfall.
This pronounced cooling is caused by a combination of two meteorological phenomena: La Niña, an ocean current that cools the waters of the Pacific, and a polar vortex that will be more present in North America.
With information from Stéphane Blais
